Malc and Kev spend another season visiting the Non-League grounds of Notts and Derbys

Tuesday, 21 October 2008

Tuesday 21st October 2008

Rolls Royce Leisure 6-4 Sutton Town AFC -- CML Supreme Division

I was toying with the idea of staying in to watch some Champions League on TV - thank goodness Kev came around to call for me!!

What should, on paper, have been an away banker, turned into a night of embarrasment for high-flying Sutton. They were lying second in the table, with Rolls next to bottom. Rolls have scored their fair share of goals - averaging over two per game - but the down side is that they are averaging over 4 per game conceded !! Sutton were scoring almost 3 goals a game so we did expect a high scoring encounter, but never thought we would see TEN goals.......

Davey and Powell both had decent chances in the first couple of minutes before the Rolls' right back, under pressure from Powell, volleyed into his own net to give Sutton the lead.

Sutton looked a bit unbalanced, and with several key players missing they began to lose the plot - especially when Rolls' striker Damien Rennicks took the game by the scruff of the neck on 25 . He levelled the scores with a 20 yard drive that was past keeper Frost before he could react - then 6 minutes later gave Rolls the lead, poor defending allowing the big no.10 to retain possession and fire through a crowd of players. Rennicks completed his hat-trick on 33, converting from the penalty spot after a Rolls player was tripped in the box. Sutton reduced the arrears on 36, a ball flicked across the goal by Powell volleyed home by Farrell. H-T 3-2

First time ever, I had a flask of coffee ..it was placed on the floor out of the way -- but "Evening Post" Brian managed to kick it over -- he wasn't offered any of the contents!!

Ricky Martt scored for Rolls within seconds of the restart - again bad defending allowing the midfielder to stab home at the near post. Keeper Frost exclaimed "this is embarrassing!" - and he had a point - the comedic defending was not something that anyone expected... It got wose for Sutton on 56 -- a free-kick from inside the Rolls half was completely missed by Conner and their no. 9, Jeremy Millensted raced through on goal and slid the ball expertly past Frost.

Powell prodded home from close range on the hour to make it 5-3, but Rennicks added his fourth on 78. A long throw from the right was met with the deftest of flick headers - and despite a despairing dive from Frost, the ball nestled in the back of the net. Sutton scored right on the final whistle, a corner from Ludlow ( I think) going straight into the goal. F-T 6-4

We have seen Sutton a few times this season, but this was a different Sutton to the team that beat Yorkshire Main, Pinxton and Forest Town. The defending really was a comedy of errors, and to their credit, Rolls took full advantage to claim the points. Fantastic win for the home team, only their second victory of this season's campaign.